A Coat That Transforms Into a Sleeping Bag: The Empowerment Plan's Creation Helps The Homeless in Detroit

If you've ever wondered how the homeless cope in the winter—sleeping on the streets in sub-zero temperatures—well, you're not alone. Veronika Scott, a Detroit-based designer, created this brilliant product—a waterproof, insulated warm winter coat that can transform into a sleeping bag at night. Her goal? To help the 20,000+ homeless people in Detroit—a city where 1 in every 42 people have no place to call home.

I heard Scott speak on a panel at Aspen Fashion Week a few days ago. What's especially great about Scott's Empowerment Plan is that it's not just about handing out free coats to the homeless, but it's also about training and giving homeless women skills they can use in the job marketplace later on.

Each coat The Empowerment Plan produces is made by specially trained workers—women who are being taught how to sew and assemble garments.